At Sea, On Shore, At Home,
In the Community

At sea and on shore, women are integral to fishing communities.

Women are involved in all aspects of commercial fishing from skippering vessels to manufacturing gear; from running settlement houses to processing fish; from owning boats to running shore side businesses. While their spouses are at sea, fishermen’s wives necessarily engage in overseeing the home finances, sole parenting, and taking care of household repairs. In the case of family-owned boats, wives also commonly repair and maintain gear, purchase supplies, and manage the business finances. Additionally, women have formed grassroots organizations to build community, advocate on behalf of the industry, and lead seafood marketing efforts.